WE ACT for Environmental Justice

WE ACT for Environmental Justice WE ACT builds healthy communities by ensuring that low income, people of color participate in the creation of environmental health policies and practices.

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is Northern Manhattan's proactive community health watchdog, advocating and advancing measures to shape an environment that improves the quality of life for residents of a historically underrepresented area. WE ACT began its successful history by becoming the driving force in the creation of Harlem Piers Park, forming a design committee whose open space vision was

ultimately accepted by the city as a better use of the abandoned piers that were projected to become a hotel. WE ACT also spearheaded the implementation of more stringent bus pollution standards, suing the MTA for opening its eighth bus depot in Northern Manhattan and helping to make a strong case that led them to switch from diesel fuel. to hybrid electrics that reduce tailpipe emissions by 95%. WE ACT's ability to build effective coalitions within the community helped deter the city from expanding a waste facility in Northern Manhattan and influenced the City Council to pass a strong lead poisoning standard. Its experienced leadership and a vast network of municipal, state and national contacts on make it a meaningful voice for environmental progress on all levels of government. Working research partnerships with Columbia University, Montefiore Medical Center and Mt Sinai Hospital provide unparalleled credibility: one of One of WE ACT's Columbia research projects was used as justification for a fine particulate standard that was adapted by the EPA and upheld by the US Supreme Court. Policy work is not that visible: effecting change often takes years and WE ACT will stay with an issue until an acceptable solution is in place. Its groundbreaking grassroots efforts ultimately improve the well-being of all New Yorkers and provide a national blueprint for communities facing similar challenges.

Join us for our June Membership Meeting! 🌱🗑️Come learn about composting, waste, and all things sanitation — plus, we’re ...
06/08/2026

Join us for our June Membership Meeting! 🌱🗑️
Come learn about composting, waste, and all things sanitation — plus, we’re celebrating Juneteenth!

đź“… Saturday, June 13th
🕙 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Most Worshipful Prince Hall — 454 West 155th Street

RSVP at the link in our bio or here : community.weact.org/we_act_june_membership_meeting26

We are a part of our environments, and our environments shape our health: the water we drink, the land we grow on, and t...
06/05/2026

We are a part of our environments, and our environments shape our health: the water we drink, the land we grow on, and the air we breathe. On , we’re ringing the alarm on Trump’s EPA rollbacks to clean air protections. Clean air is a human right, not a privilege. Learn more and get involved at daretobreathe.org LINK IN BIO

according to the American Lung Association , over half of people in the U.S. - including 78 million people of color - are breathing dirty, deadly air? We’re pushing back against the Trump administration that is putting polluters over our lives - WE ! EPA: DO YOUR JOB.

➡️ WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Like and share this post
- Tell your reps you want to protect US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean air standards

This cohort is a part of the , hosted by WE ACT. Organizations include , , , .austin , , WERA, WE ACT, and .

🌟WE HELPED PROTECT BILLIONS $$$ IN LIFE-SAVING COOLING & HEATING ENERGY RELIEF FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S...but we n...
06/05/2026

🌟WE HELPED PROTECT BILLIONS $$$ IN LIFE-SAVING COOLING & HEATING ENERGY RELIEF FOR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S...but we need to keep pressure to make sure it stays!

What Happened:
The proposed FY 2027 Trump administration budget tried to ZERO out the life-saving Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program ( ). WE ACT & partners took action.

🙌🏾Thanks to hundreds of groups & thousands of people, we protected over $4b - a $10m increase from FY26.

đź“ŁWhy This is Important:
In 2024, LIHEAP distributed nearly $4 billion to households struggling to pay their energy bills. It’s a lifeline for more than 6 million families. ( )

What You Can Do:
âś…SPREAD THE WORD: Like, comment, & share
âś…Tell your reps you want robust, life-saving funding for LIHEAP & WAP
âś…Share your story to push back at healthyhomesfirst.org/takeaction

The products we use every day — our shampoos, hair dyes, moisturizers — are hiding a toxic secret. A new op-ed in the l...
06/04/2026

The products we use every day — our shampoos, hair dyes, moisturizers — are hiding a toxic secret. A new op-ed in the lays out exactly why New York cannot afford to wait any longer to pass the Beauty Justice Act.

The bill has already passed the State Senate. 98 Assembly members are co-sponsors. But it still hasn’t come to the floor for a vote — and the legislative session ends soon.

We’re calling on Assembly Speaker to bring the Beauty Justice Act (S.2057B/A.2054B) to a vote NOW. Women’s lives — especially Black women and women of color who face disproportionate exposure to these chemicals — are on the line.

đź“– Read the full op-ed. Link in bio.
đź“Ł Tag a friend who deserves safe products.
✊ Click the link in our bio to tell Speaker Heastie: bring this bill to the floor.

06/03/2026

đź’¨We ! Hear from Donele Wilkins, Founder and CEO of and experts from across the U.S. on why we need to demand better protections - because we all deserve clean air. Watch & share: LINK IN BIO

Speakers included:
- Moderator: Leslie G. Fields, Chief Federal Officer, WE ACT for Environmental Justice (New York, D.C.)
- Anastasia Gordon, Director of Federal Policy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice (New York, D.C.)
- Joseph Santana, Environmental Health Equity Manager, (Seattle, WA)
- Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director,
- Irene Burga Márquez, Climate Justice & Clean Air Program Director,
- Donele Wilkins, Founder & CEO, Green Door Initiative (Detroit, MI)
- Julie McNamara, Federal Energy Policy Director,
- Nicky Sheats, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

: According to the American Lung Association, over half of people in the U.S. - including 78 million people of color - are breathing dirty, deadly air. We’re pushing back against the Trump administration that is putting polluters over our lives - ! Learn more and get involved at daretobreathe.org

Clean air isn’t a privilege, it’s a human right. EPA: DO YOUR JOB.

➡️ WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Like and share this post
- Tell your reps you want to protect US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean air standards

This briefing was created in partnership between Environmental Justice Leadership Forum’s cohort and
hosted by Center for Earth Energy & Democracy

Summer heat is here — and for many in our communities, it’s not just uncomfortable. It’s dangerous.The HEAP Cooling Assi...
06/03/2026

Summer heat is here — and for many in our communities, it’s not just uncomfortable. It’s dangerous.

The HEAP Cooling Assistance Benefit helps eligible low-income New Yorkers get an air conditioner or fan — covering cost, installation, and more. But time is running out: the program closes this Friday, June 5th at close of business.

Don’t wait. If you or someone you know qualifies, apply now before the window closes.

đź”— Learn more and apply: access.nyc.gov/programs/cooling-assistance-benefit/ -it-works

đź“ž Questions? Call 718-557-1399

These businesses know what consumers know: the products we use every day shouldn’t put our health at risk. And they’re p...
06/02/2026

These businesses know what consumers know: the products we use every day shouldn’t put our health at risk. And they’re proving that safer alternatives are already here.

The Beauty Justice Act has 100 Assembly co-sponsors. Now it’s time to pass it. Link in bio to read the full letter.

Out

06/01/2026

💨Dirty air isn’t fair; Hear from Lucy Contreras of and experts from across the U.S. on why we need to demand better protections - because we all deserve clean air. Watch & share: LINK IN BIO

Speakers included:
- Moderator: Leslie G. Fields, Chief Federal Officer, WE ACT for Environmental Justice (New York, D.C.)
- Anastasia Gordon, Director of Federal Policy, WE ACT for Environmental Justice (New York, D.C.)
- Joseph Santana, Environmental Health Equity Manager, DUWAMISH RIVER COMMUNITY COALITION (Seattle, WA)
- Lucy Contreras, Illinois State Program Director, GreenLatinos
- Irene Burga Márquez, Climate Justice & Clean Air Program Director, GreenLatinos
- Donele Wilkins, Founder & CEO, (Detroit, MI)
- Julie McNamara, Federal Energy Policy Director, Union of Concerned Scientists
- Nicky Sheats, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance

: According to the American Lung Association , over half of people in the U.S. - including 78 million people of color - are breathing dirty, deadly air. We’re pushing back against the Trump administration that is putting polluters over our lives - ! Learn more and get involved at daretobreathe.org

Clean air isn’t a privilege, it’s a human right. EPA: DO YOUR JOB.

➡️ WHAT YOU CAN DO:
- Like and share this post
- Tell your reps you want to protect US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) clean air standards

This briefing was created in partnership between Environmental Justice Leadership Forum’s cohort and
hosted by

Happy !! Now more than ever, we NEED to stand UP across communities and movements to fight for freedom and justice. Env...
06/01/2026

Happy !! Now more than ever, we NEED to stand UP across communities and movements to fight for freedom and justice. Environmental justice and queerness go hand-in-hand, and we must keep working towards a world in which we are all safe and healthy.

Learn more and share: bit.ly/prideandej or LINK IN BIO

Activists to follow:
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Orgs to follow & join:
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queernature LGBTQIA

The beauty products we use every day — shampoos, lotions, chemical straighteners — are largely unregulated. The FDA does...
06/01/2026

The beauty products we use every day — shampoos, lotions, chemical straighteners — are largely unregulated. The FDA doesn’t require safety testing before products hit shelves.

And the ones most likely to contain toxic ingredients? Disproportionately marketed to women of color. That’s not a coincidence. It’s an environmental justice issue.

New York’s Beauty Justice Act (A.2054B) would ban some of the most dangerous chemicals — lead, mercury, formaldehyde, PFAS, parabens, and asbestos — from personal care products sold in our state. The Senate has passed it two years in a row. Now we need the Assembly to act.

Urge Assembly Speaker and Ways & Means Chair Assembly member to bring this bill to a vote. Link in bio.

Address

1854 Amsterdam Avenue (at 152nd St)
New York, NY
10031

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12129611000

Website

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